Answer to Question #33052 in Inorganic Chemistry for dora

Question

besides using sodium hydroxide, what are the other chemicals which are also alkali?

Answer 1

In chemistry , an alkali is a basic , ionic salt of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal element . Some authors also define an alkali as a base that dissolves in water. A solution of a soluble base has a pH greater than 7. The adjective alkaline is commonly used in English as a synonym for base, especially for soluble bases. This broad use of the term is likely to have come about because alkalis were the first bases known to obey the Arrhenius definition of a base and are still among the most common bases. Alkali salts are soluble hydroxides of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, of which common examples are:
* Sodium hydroxide (often called "caustic soda")
* Potassium hydroxide (commonly called "caustic potash")
* lye (genericterm, for either of the previous two, or even for a mixture)
* Calcium hydroxide (saturated solution known as " limewater ")
* Magnesium hydroxide is an example of an atypical alkali since it has low solubility in water (although the dissolved portion is considered a strong base due to complete dissociation of its ions).